We finally have had a week of Arctic air over us in Calgary and those lakes sure look tempting. Here are a couple of safety tips to start a new season.

Ice Strength Table: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfwice.htm

What to do if you fall in - Discovery Channel video http://www.exn.ca/video/?Video=exn20020325-icewater.asx

Hope it never happens ! Think snow

http://www.exn.ca/video/?Video=exn20020325-icewater.asx

Thanks for this link canuck! I picked up a pair of those safety ice picks today - I hope I never need them

One thing I'm not sure I could do is get the skis off. Maybe I could try and release the binding with the back of the other ski, but it sounds tough to do while in the water.

Maybe undoing a few buckles of the boots and slipping your foot out would be easier??

I made ice claws a few years back out of 2 long nails, 2 long pieces of tube shaped cork with holes pre-drilled to allow the nails to snugly pass through and bungee cord to hold them around my neck and a piece of tubing to hold the nails together yet protected so the whole thing fits like a necklace. I then tied some orange safety ribbon to it so it could be easily seen in a breakthrough.

Hopefully I'll never need them but I always wear them on ice. I also carry a 15' rope with looped handles on both ends to allow someone in the water something to hold on to and someone on the ice grip enough to pull or hold them up.

I think if you break though with traditional down hill skis on, the only way you'll be able to release the bindings is with your hands and that may require you to submerse your head.

Not a good situation to be in but at least you can be as prepared as possible if the need ever arises.

Basic ice safety needs to be, "when in doubt, don't go out" Its just too risky.